The Armour Archive

Okay -- I'm curious. Whenever authenticity for garb styles, mostly European, are brought up there always seems to be the mentality that t-tunics are the "jeans and t-shirt" of the garb arena. It seems to have a stigma attached to it, as if it were the lowest form of garb; simply for rank beginners.
Fair enough, but does this make them unacceptable as "dress attire" [not A dress, folks].
I'm not sure if I'm approaching this question in the correct manner but bear with me.
I guess what I mean to ask is: is the t-tunic appropriate as elegant attire?
I know this depends upon time period but I'm asking this as more of a general question, i.e., when the tunic was a relevant article of clothing.

I'm tired and a bit muddled, so let me know if I haven't clariefied myself well enough ...

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In Honor and Service,
Lucien Ro / Scott

I'm not sure if they ever existed in period as it wastes allot of material and clothe was rather valuable. I've seen a pattern for a viking era dress that used every bit of clothe when cut out (very little wasted material). That being said the T-tunic was the first peice of garb I made it looks good and was mostly hand swen but I think seperate sleeve woul be more appropriate.
Even when making a very opulant garment it is good to get the most you out of your material when cutting same goes for armouring and wood working.

LS

"T-Tunics" can be very appropriate for dress wear even in later periods. Look at the paintings of the Emperor Justinian, Charlemagne and the effigy of Edward the III. This was the basic mode of dress for centuries. The dalmatic was worn by English kings and lesser nobles for high court events well into the 15th century. Eclisiastical clothing has continued to be a basic t-tunic shape. As for cutting it all in one piece, that is a modern convention because of the wide loom widths we have. In period, sleeves would have to be attached and the under arms gussetted and the skirt gored.

LS - The term "t-tunic" refers to the shape of the overall garment, not to the fact some are cut all in one piece (with arms attached).

here's a few links I've found just cruising and surfing that detail what are essentially period and extant t tunics. Munz is correct in the way they were constructed.

http://webnz.com/forest/Medieval/articles/Tunics/TUNICS.HTML

http://www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/5923/cloth/stlouis.html

http://www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/5923/cloth/bocktunc.html
This next link has links to several examples
http://www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/5923/cloth/bockhome.html


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They call me Ned. It's medievally short for Edward (and it's my real name)

"Even when making a very opulant garment it is good to get the most you out of your material when cutting >same goes for armouring and wood working<."

I've got to disagree with this on woodworking. Now-a-days, lumber is expensive and is cut to use every bit possible. When Europe was heavily forested, a carpenter went out into the forest, picked a tree that looked suitable, and carved away the wood he didn't want. For instance, on a ship, a convergence of root and trunk might be used for the ribs, the curve following the natural grain of the wood, rather than bending or cutting across grain. The wood was carved green, as well. This is stronger than sawn boards, whose grain may go off the plane of the board.

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Virtus vincit invidiam
"Virtue overcometh envy"

Bascot you are absoulutly right about he wood thin I should of put a disclaimer on moderen saw cut wood, I recently made an ax handle from some iron wood and sid just that going with the natural flow of the grain and it has held up much better than any of my previos machine made hafts.

I was refering to the fold fabric in 4 and cut onec t-tunic not the multi peice tunic being from Trimaris (at least wear I lived)that is what t-tunic seemed to mean the multipeice was just a tunic.
LS

When most people talk about a "t-tunic" they mean a garmet that is folded along the width (with the selvedges forming the sleeve cuffs, usually) a line is drawn showing the side seams and the sleeve. it is in the shape of a "T" the rectangles under the arm are removed, and the garment is stitched up.

The big reason this wasnt done in period was two fold:
1. It wastes the rectangles
2. fabric that wide was difficult/imossible to make.

Most period tunics (there arent many out there) are made with a technique called goring. this is the process of adding triangular (or rhomboid) peices to the garment in order to widen it. this is often done at a seam (for example on the side seam) to minimize the puckering at the tip. sometimes, depending on how the garment was cut, the sleeves under arm is gored as well. this allows a rectangular sleeve to fit the wrist, but still open wide enough for the armscye.

-+G

PS: here is what could be considered a T-tunic. i think its appropriate for court..
[img]http://www.arches.uga.edu/~cavender/medieval/superTop.JPG[/img]

[This message has been edited by Rev. George (edited 07-02-2001).]